CLARKTON, N.C. (WECT) – The lieutenant of the Clarkton Fire Department has stepped down from his role, pointing to workplace tension, disputes and ongoing conflicts with town leadership.
Jeff Kulp announced his immediate resignation in a public statement, stating he could no longer serve in an environment marked by dishonesty, internal politics and damaged workplace trust.
“To think about walking away from that, it doesn’t sit well with me however, I feel like I’m doing the right thing. I’m standing up for what’s right,” said Kulp.
His departure follows efforts to highlight fire department funding issues and unresolved department contracts.
Kulp previously told WECT that a dispute between the Town of Clarkton and the fire department over audits led to a contract expiring and not being renewed.
During the town council meeting on Nov. 5, Kulp said the town and fire department reached an agreement and signed a new contract.
According to Kulp, the contract gives firefighters increased funding as long as fire officials provide proof of liability insurance to the town, and the next contract is contingent upon an audit being produced by Dec. 31 of that year.
However, Kulp resigned Friday morning, saying the meeting became heated and that the way the situation unfolded was unacceptable.
“Even though it’s a passion, at some point you can only take so much,” said Kulp. “I’d rather leave with my integrity and professionalism intact than dealing with situations like that.”
Kulp added that he signed up to speak at the meeting and chose to use his time to bring concerns to light.
Kulp said he learned about phone calls being made by officials on the town board asking people not to support fire department leadership and calls to bordering departments to gauge interest in being the Clarkton fire chief.
“My intention with everything was to ask the board not to interfere with fire department activities,” said Kulp. “I reminded them that as far as dealings with the fire department, we are a separate entity and [they] have no control over who is chief or anything.”
Kulp said he was then met with ‘anger’ and asked to stop speaking.
“Myself being a volunteer, I thought about it all night and woke up this morning and decided ‘I’m a volunteer and I don’t deserve to be berated like that when I’m trying to help,’” said Kulp.
WECT reached out to town officials about the new contract and Kulp’s allegations, but has not received a response.
Mayor Jerome Myers told WECT he had no comment.
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